My 4-5" OLV Lift kit build thread.

[97cargocrawler]

seeing the lift is this weekend, it's about time to start planning for the future and then, ummm, the future, am i right or what 97CC

Ha! Change the nicknames on your CHECKING, SAVINGS and RETIREMENT accounts to VAN FUNDS 1, VAN FUNDS 2 and DIVORCE FUNDS.

Get a third and fourth job and start coming up with good excuses to feed your bosses for time off.

Clear some space in the garage for old lift parts (31" tires, shocks etc) that will be saved for a future fleet.

[SilverBullet1997]

:thumbup:

i've been eye'n one of those from the link's i sent you. but it'll have to wait. first the tires, then a muffler by september for the emission's test, only 197k and now it's rusting out, what's with that

Yes it is from the links you sent me, I went down to the parking lot sale at harbor freight and picked it up friday! It weighs as much as an old VW Beetle, The aluminum ones were much lighter, more expensive, and less weight capacity, plus they had a 4 inch less lift height on them too.

seeing the lift is this weekend, it's about time to start planning for the future and then, ummm, the future, am i right or what 97CC

That passenger door is sweet. I am already thinking about the future of going bigger, it won't be for another year or two but eventually I will go bigger, and when I do it won't be a pavement princess.
Just playing Cargo! I swear!

[SilverBullet1997]

LIFT DAY!!!!!!

thegreenmachine arrived late last night. We are heading out to my buddies this morning to go install lift, I am going to ask my friend with the shop if it is okay for Jasen to come over. Hopefully he won't mind...

Pictures will come later!

[Sailing_Faith]

Look forward to seeing the progress! Good luck.

[DRZ]

LIFT DAY!!!!!!

thegreenmachine arrived late last night. We are heading out to my buddies this morning to go install lift, I am going to ask my friend with the shop if it is okay for Jasen to come over. Hopefully he won't mind...

Pictures will come later!

OKAY, what's the deal on Jasen that is so iffy you need permission to have him on the property ?

[97cargocrawler]

!%$%@$^@[email protected]$$!!!!! I've checked like 10X today for pix! I'm seriously jonsin' for some van porn! C'monnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!

[SilverBullet1997]

LIFT DAY!!!!!!

thegreenmachine arrived late last night. We are heading out to my buddies this morning to go install lift, I am going to ask my friend with the shop if it is okay for Jasen to come over. Hopefully he won't mind...

Pictures will come later!

OKAY, what's the deal on Jasen that is so iffy you need permission to have him on the property ?

It has nothing to with Jasen, it is the fact that my buddy doesn't know him and was in and out of his shop today. Jasen is a great and trustworthy friend if you ask me.

!%$%@$^@[email protected]$$!!!!! I've checked like 10X today for pix! I'm seriously jonsin' for some van porn! C'monnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!

The bulk of the pics will come on monday, where it is easier to upload... I will load a couple tomorrow... right now were off to bed

[Jasen]

OKAY, what's the deal on Jasen that is so iffy you need permission to have him on the property ?

It has nothing to with Jasen, it is the fact that my buddy doesn't know him and was in and out of his shop today. Jasen is a great and trustworthy friend if you ask me.

it's a tough life being the ruggedly handsome one. someone has to be the one and i'm willing to take on the task, take one for the team and all that, it's just the kinda guy i am.

[Corsemoto]

The bulk of the pics will come on monday, where it is easier to upload... I will load a couple tomorrow... right now were off to bed

So many amazing 80's icons in this thread! Mister Achmed Foley, Achnell, Achwell, Axel Foley, shirtless Clint Eastwood, Jasen, Carly Simon...

Pretty sure photos of the van aren't even required now.

[thegreenmachine]

I totally forgot how much work a lift is.

What a drive! Put on over 500 km in 2 days. Had a great time.

[SilverBullet1997]

Teaser... will upload more photos tomorrow....

We are not quite done yet, we never got to the torsion keys, but everything else has been taken care of.

I will have measurements for you when I take more pics and upload them tomorrow...


It was raised about 5 in the back I believe(which will settle a bit as the springs break in) and 2" in front, once the torsions are installed we would be able to crank it up another 2-3" hopefully.

Anyways, some of the work included but was not limited too, Painting of rusty bumper(under front cover), switching out for a black grill, removed stock powersteering cooler lines and installed a radiator for them, Modified lower fan shroud, Welding new shock tabs, installing leaf springs and new shocks all around, relocated upper ball joints.

[Tegnus]

Did you installed new leaf springs + new shackles and put it on the last hole (first from the bottom) so it gives most of the lift? No vibrations?

[SilverBullet1997]

I have no vibrations even at 70mph, I am in the middle hole I believe is what Shane(thegreenmachine) and I decided. The pinion angle seems to be just fine with out any shims. I need to get an alignment, but I want to do the torsion keys first, so I need to look in to how hard it is to do. My shop just quoted me 175$ to do it.

[Corsemoto]

That could be money well spent, or not. Do you have a torsion unloading tool? I know it's been done with modified c-clamps but seems kind of sketchy.

[SilverBullet1997]

That could be money well spent, or not. Do you have a torsion unloading tool? I know it's been done with modified c-clamps but seems kind of sketchy.

I do not, nor do I know where to get one or how much they are, it would be nice if I could just rent one for the project...

Shane said that my drivers torsion bar was already maxed and my passenger had a little more room in it. But we didn't have the tools or the time to be able to complete it, he had to get back to Canada as the Border Patrol gave him a hard time.

[Corsemoto]

Google or eBay "GM Torsion Bar Unloading Tool", decent quality are around $100 + or so. I haven't seen them available as a loaner tool when I looked so may be worthwhile for you to pay shop, especially if t-bars happen to be difficult to knock out.

Don't feel bad, my front end has gone all mushy and wandery especially under braking load. Had a look at lower control arm bushings and they are wasted so I'll be doing that before too long so don't destroy tires and have to play super correct the correction all the time. I'm not surprised they are trashed the way I used to drift I mean drive my van and now with the heavy E-load tires.

[SilverBullet1997]

Before lift

After after lift: With out Torsion keys yet.

Still working on the write up, its going to take me a while to get it all done, going to have to check some info with thegreenmachine too, and get some of the pics he also took.

[Corsemoto]

It's looking good SilverBullet, much more mangly congrats!

[SilverBullet1997]

Google or eBay "GM Torsion Bar Unloading Tool", decent quality are around $100 + or so. I haven't seen them available as a loaner tool when I looked so may be worthwhile for you to pay shop, especially if t-bars happen to be difficult to knock out.

Don't feel bad, my front end has gone all mushy and wandery especially under braking load. Had a look at lower control arm bushings and they are wasted so I'll be doing that before too long so don't destroy tires and have to play super correct the correction all the time. I'm not surprised they are trashed the way I used to drift I mean drive my van and now with the heavy E-load tires.

Yeah a lot of my bushings are wasted down there, I really need to do a lot of the suspension/steering components when I get more money

[SilverBullet1997]

It's looking good SilverBullet, much more mangly congrats!

Who you calling Mangly?!